Sony XBR65X930E vs XBR65X930D Review – What are their differences?

Sony XBR65X930E is part of X930E series, the high class of Sony’s 2017 4K TV lineup. It is successor of Sony XBR65X930D as part of X930D series, the first model of Sony HDR TV lineup that is certified by Ultra HD Premium Certification and can display HDR 10 format fully. As the successor of XBR65X930D, of course XBR65X900E also can display HDR 10 fully without any issues, even it comes with some improvements and upgrades that make its performance is better. If in last year, XBR65X930D only supports HDR 10, the successors XBR65X900E already supports both HDR 10 and Dolby Vision format, even also supports Hybrid Log gamma, a open source HDR format for TV broadcasting which was jointly developed by NHK and BBC. So, in addition to HDR formats which supported by them, what are their differences between them?

The differences between Sony XBRR65X900E and XBR65X930D

There are two major differences between Sony XBR65X930E and XBR65X930D those are about their picture engine and the level of Slim Backlight Drive technology behind it. Let’s start discuss their difference one by one.

4K Processor X1 vs 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme

Technology Embeded

4K Processor X1

4K HDR Processor X1 (New)

4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme

Dynamic Contrast Enhancer

Yes

Yes

Yes

Precision Color Mapping

Yes

No

Yes

Dual Data Base Processing

No

No

Yes

Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR

No

Yes

Yes

Object-based HDR Remaster technology

No

Yes

Yes

As we see on comparison table above, Sony XBR65X930E comes with 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme as its picture engine while Sony XBR65X930D comes with 4K Processor X1 engine. You need to know, 4k HDR Processor X1 Extreme is the same image processor that used by the 2016 flagship XBR-Z9D series. The difference between these processors is about the technologies which embedded in them. 4K X1 Processor of XBR65X930D features Dynamic Contrast Enhancer and Precision Color Mapping. Meanwhile, in addition to what featured by 4K Processor X1, 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme of XBR65X930E also features Dual Data Base Processing, Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR, and Object-based HDR Remaster technology. You need to know, Dual Data Base Processing technology makes better performance when up-scaling lower resolution to near 4K quality, Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR significantly improves the color gradient, while Object-based HDR Remaster make the color and contrast looks more real when displaying HDR Contents. With additional of the several technologies, TV with 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme including XBR65X930E offers better performance when processing 4K HDR signals than TV with 4K Processor X1 like XBR65X930D.

Slim Backlight Drive vs Slim Backlight Drive +

We can see on comparison table above, both of Sony XBR65X930D vs XBR65X930 equally use edge light backlighting. A difference is about the technology that controls the LED backlighting where XBR65X930E is powered by Slim Backlight Drive + while XBR65X930D is powered by Slim Backlight Drive. You need to know, these technologies is actually based on Edge Lit with local Dimming Technology. It is the technology that designed to improve black level and contrast while TV is still slim. That makes a difference is about the number of zones which they control. But unfortunately, in this case Sony didn’t explain in detail, how many zones of each of these technologies. But it is surely, Slim Backlight Drive + has more dimming zones than Slim Backlight Drive. The result, XBR65X930E with Slim Backlight Drive Plus offers deeper black level and stronger contrast than XBR65X930D with Slim Backlight Drive. As we know, the more dimming zones of local dimming technology, back level and contrast reached is deeper and stronger.

HDR Format

As we know, all models of Sony’s 2016 4K HDR TV lineup including XBR65X930D already support HDR, but they support HDR 10 only, the open source HDR 10 format by UHD Alliance. Meanwhile, in 2017, all models of Sony 4K HDR lineup, especially for middle to upper class including XBR65X930E support more HDR formats, those are HDR 10, Dolby Vision and HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma). Dolby Vision is a proprietary HDR format by Dolby Laboratories while HLD (Hybrid Log Gamma) is opens source HDR format for TV broadcasting that was jointly developed by BBC and NHK.

Other differences

In addition to the major differences between Sony XBR65X930E and XBR65X930D like we have discussed a lot above, they also have same differences but not too major like their design, where their Inputs/Outputs located, the version of Android TV and smart features that offered, and their speaker system. As we see on comparison table above, Sony XBR65X930D has audio output 7.5W+7.5W+7.5W+7.5W with while Sony XBR65X930E has audio output 10 W + 10 W + 10 W + 10 W + 10 W + 10 W with speaker configuration like we see on comparison table above. But considering most of people add external sound bar for their TV to get better sound experience, their difference in sound quality between them certainly is not too major. The other difference is about 3D technology where there is no 3D technology behind XBR65X930E while XBR65X930D comes with active 3D technology.

Sony XBR65X930E vs XBR65X930D performance

Picture Quality

Picture quality is the most affected from their differences in the level of technologies behind them. Essentially, picture quality that produced by them looks amazing, no matter the light condition of the room where they used. Nevertheless, the use of X1 Extreme engine and Slim Backlight Drive + behind XBR65X930E makes it offers better picture than the predecessor X930D. As we know, because it has more dimming zones, Slim Backlight Drive plus makes black level and contrast produced by XBR65X930E is deeper and stronger than what produced by XBR65X930D. In other hand, this also makes peak brightness that reached is also brighter than the predecessor.

But even so, separated from the superiority of XBR65X930E to XBR65X930D, both of them offer good picture quality when used in a dark room. Detail of images in shadow or dark scenes looks very clear, especially when they are inputted by HDR signals. When used in a bright room with decent light, their performance is also great due bright picture that produced by them. Even when used in a very bright room where there is sunlight come through windows, their peak brightness is quite bright to fight the glare so the picture still looks consistently amazing. Moreover, peak brightness of XBR65X930E and XBR65X930E also exceeds than 1000 nits as the minimum recommendations for displaying HDR 10 fully. Since peak brightness becomes the one of most important aspects of HDR, this makes HDR performance that offered by them is great.

Moving on color performance, with TriLuminos display technology behind them both of Sony XBR65X900E and XBR65X930E can deliver wide color gamut. This makes the color of the picture looks very accurate even for hard to reproduce color. Let alone when they are inputted by HDR where it is mastered with wider color gamut than SDR, of course the picture that displayed on their screen is richer. Supported by deep black level and bright peak brightness, this also makes the color still looks accurate, even on bright scenes where the accuracy of color usually is decreased. Additionally, with Object-based HDR Remaster technology inside their picture engine, this makes both of them can processor 8 bit or 10 bit signals in 14 bit processing. This makes the gradient of color that displayed on each of their screen looks very smooth without color gradation or banding.

Combination between X1 engine and 4K X-Reality Pro engine allow you to enjoy lower resolution contents in near 4K quality sharply and clearly. No matter the resolution of your video sources, 1080p,720p or even 480p, all of them displayed in 4K resolution sharply on their screen with small details preserved well. Moreover for XBR65X30E with Object-based HDR Remaster and Dual Base Data Base technology inside its picture engine, it allows you to enjoy non SDR contents or lower resolution contents with quality close to HDR. The other advantage, you can also enjoy HDR 10 and Dolby Vision contents on the screen of XBR65X930E, while on the screen of XBR65X930D, you can enjoy HDR 10 contents only. But essentially, picture quality that offered by each is including one of the best on class.

The only downside of both is about side viewing angle where both of them equally have poor side viewing angle. Contrast and color will looks degraded if you are watching TV from side viewing angle, started at 20 degrees off center and front. So, the seat and TV placement must be observed when you put them in your room.

Motion Handling and 24p Playbacks

When they are used for watching fast moving images like sport program or fast movies, both of them equally offer good performance with smooth picture quality. Each of their pixel response time is very low that makes fast moving object is only followed by short trail. In other hand, both of them also do a good job when playing 24p movies. No matter the sources, whether it is 24p movies from Blur Ray. 24p via 60i signals like movies from satellite TV, or 24p movies via 60p signals likes movies from streaming media, both of them offers smooth picture quality with judder-free. But of course, to remove judder without add Soap Opera Effect, the certain setting on their picture setting is required.

Inputs/Outputs

Both of Sony XBR65X930E and XBR65X930D are equality with 4 HDMI Ports, 3 USB Ports, 2 AV In (Composite IN), 1 Component In, 1 Ethernet, 1 Antenna In (RF In), and Digital Audio Out (Optical). With the many ports that provided by them, this allow both of them can cover a lot of your electronic devices. Additionally, their HDMI ports also already supports the format or what required for HDMO connection for this time like HDCP 2..2, CEC, Audio Return Channel, and many more. Nevertheless, talking about their input lag, XBR65X930E as newer model has lower input lag than the predecessor XBR65X930D. For XBR65X930D, its input lag might quite low at 1080p signals, but at 4K signals it is still too high. Meanwhile, XBR65X930E has low input lags at both 1080p and 4K signal. This means, for video games, Sony XBR65X930E is better especially for 4K games that require fast reflexes.

Smart TV

Google Android TV

Both of them equally feature Google android TV as their smart TV platform. The difference is about their version where XBR65X930D comes with Android TV version 5.0 or 2016 version while XBR65X930E comes with version 6.0 or 2017 version. As newer model, of course there are some updates that make you more comfort when operating Smart TV on XBR65X930E. But essentially, the features and apps that provided are similar. There are Google Play Store that allows you to download tons of interesting and useful apps, Google Chrome Cast for screen mirroring, Web Browser, Google Voice Search, Premium VoD Services like YouTube, Netflix, Amazon, and others, Cloud Games apps, and many more. Nevertheless, although their user interface is designed attractively, but like on last year version, navigating on Google Android TV 2017 still feels a bit confusing.

About their controller, there is also no significant change. Both of them come with Sony Basic Remote where there are arrays of a lot of buttons. Both of these remotes are also equipped with built In microphone for voice navigation and voice search functionality. Additionally, both of XBR65X930D and XBR65X930E also equipped with IR blaster that allow you to control your other devices connected on them with a single Sony Remote.

Summary

Conclusion

From the differences in technologies which support them, can be ascertained Sony XBR65X930E offers better picture performance than XBR65X930D, especially when they are displaying HDR contents because indeed in 2017, Sony more focused in improving HDR performance of their lineup. In addition to it is sold cheaper, the only advantage of XBR65X930D as the older model is about 3D technology where Sony has removed 3D technology from their 2017 lineup including XBR65X930E. For you who are 3D fans and want to buy Sony 2017 model, this of course is a bit disappointing. But as the instead, it offers greater HDR performance and already support most of HDR formats that available.

So which is a better choice between them? As a newer model that offers greater HDR performance, of course Sony XBR65X930E is a better choice. But to get it, you must spent hundreds dollars more of your money. Let alone when I was writing this comparison, it has just been released, of course, the price is still as high. But with the passage of the time, its price usually will tend to god down. In other hand, although XBR65X930D is an older model and performance that offered is not as good as what offered by XBR65X930D, but picture performance that offered still can be said amazing. It is including few TVs in 2016 which certified by Ultra HD premium certification that guarantees its great HDR performance. Additionally, its price is also cheaper and the advantage, it allows you to enjoy 3D entertainment. Now the decision comes back to you according to your need and preferences. But before you decide to choose one of them, there are a lot of user opinions from their real customers where you can make as your further consideration.

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